Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: JSMC on January 22, 2013, 09:04:45 pm

Title: wagtail question
Post by: JSMC on January 22, 2013, 09:04:45 pm
thinking of getting one for pole work for an office job i do. Thing is are these things any good?

do they wear quick?

can you use any rubber on them ?

pros and cons???
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: stuart mc on January 22, 2013, 09:12:21 pm
thinking of getting one for pole work for an office job i do. Thing is are these things any good?

do they wear quick?


no idea I didn't keep one long enough to find out

can you use any rubber on them ?

yes

pros and cons???

pro's

con's they look pish , feel pish, make a mess, and are totally useless and I can work just fine with a normal squeegie ;D

I am not a fan if you have not guessed, sure you will get a dozen answers disagreeing though
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: JSMC on January 22, 2013, 09:16:08 pm
i can use normal trad gear on pole but one job is a large glass front and ye need to get it down in all one go. Problem is it dries quick and can be a right feckin mare >:(
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: robertphil on January 22, 2013, 09:23:54 pm
i absolutely swear by them . the yellow is the toughest  and nicest to use and the blue the more nimble /lightest .  for house windows 12 or 14 inch is the way to go

the wagtail is a lot kinder to your wrists than a regular squeegee in my opinion . if used daily they last me 2 years before worn right out .

iv found its best to use a thick rubber ,not Ungers as its too thin
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: stuart mc on January 22, 2013, 10:11:32 pm
i can use normal trad gear on pole but one job is a large glass front and ye need to get it down in all one go. Problem is it dries quick and can be a right feckin mare >:(

don't soap up too much glass, just do a section at a time then it will not dry up
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: JSMC on January 22, 2013, 10:35:34 pm
i can use normal trad gear on pole but one job is a large glass front and ye need to get it down in all one go. Problem is it dries quick and can be a right feckin mare >:(

don't soap up too much glass, just do a section at a time then it will not dry up

only end up with marks where ye stop start.
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on January 22, 2013, 10:48:28 pm
The best innovation in trad gear ever, period!! ;D

Will not use normal squeegees now, been using wagtails for approx 3 years or so. Like owt else though, you have to master it- but when you do you'll be flying!!

I use the original ones (yellow pad) so can't comment on the others in the range. I use Pulex rubber in them & make my own pads as the yellow ones which come as standard (unless they've changed since) are crap.

So much easier, so much faster, so much less hassle, real "one handed" soap up & blade off.

Cannot recommend them enough! ;)
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: bobplum on January 22, 2013, 10:51:43 pm
The best innovation in trad gear ever, period!! ;D

Will not use normal squeegees now, been using wagtails for approx 3 years or so. Like owt else though, you have to master it- but when you do you'll be flying!!

I use the original ones (yellow pad) so can't comment on the others in the range. I use Pulex rubber in them & make my own pads as the yellow ones which come as standard (unless they've changed since) are crap.

So much easier, so much faster, so much less hassle, real "one handed" soap up & blade off.

Cannot recommend them enough! ;)

totally agree
they are the Gardiners of the trad world
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: Tom White on January 23, 2013, 10:19:52 am
The best innovation in trad gear ever, period!! ;D

Will not use normal squeegees now, been using wagtails for approx 3 years or so. Like owt else though, you have to master it- but when you do you'll be flying!!

I use the original ones (yellow pad) so can't comment on the others in the range. I use Pulex rubber in them & make my own pads as the yellow ones which come as standard (unless they've changed since) are crap.

So much easier, so much faster, so much less hassle, real "one handed" soap up & blade off.

Cannot recommend them enough! ;)

Agreed.  No changing tools on your pole, easily gets into those hard to reach corners; takes a little bit of practise though.
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on January 23, 2013, 05:09:33 pm
The Gardiner resi-neck swivels are like the WFP version of a wagtail for anyone curious. The pivot & action is the same, so is the learning curve too but as before- once mastered you'll never go back!! ;)
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on January 23, 2013, 05:17:35 pm
used mine a few times not a fan at all :(
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on January 23, 2013, 06:02:31 pm
used mine a few times not a fan at all :(

Think of the scene in "The empire strikes back" where Yoda is teaching young Skywalker how to be a Jedi and how to "feel" the force. To become a Jedi you must be patient. Become a Jedi my friend!
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: Banbury Window Cleaning on January 23, 2013, 06:40:11 pm
I use a wagtail whenever I trad its a great bit of kit but as said before takes a bit of practice
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: alfynokes on January 23, 2013, 06:59:43 pm
I like and use them. They're faster with polework, and easier on your wrist.

However on certain window frames with steep beading the angle of the alloy channel can catch and mark the frame despite leaving and cutting my rubber to longer lengths than I would with a normal squeegee channel. I now trim and file down the back underneath of their alloy channels to reduce this. Just be careful which jobs you use them on.
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on January 23, 2013, 07:24:50 pm
I like and use them. They're faster with polework, and easier on your wrist.

However on certain window frames with steep beading the angle of the alloy channel can catch and mark the frame despite leaving and cutting my rubber to longer lengths than I would with a normal squeegee channel. I now trim and file down the back underneath of their alloy channels to reduce this. Just be careful which jobs you use them on.

Yeah, spot on there, I forgot about that. File the sharp ends to round & smooth them off. ;)
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: JSMC on January 24, 2013, 09:39:58 pm
the pads look flimsy as hell. how ye make yer own and attach?
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: G Griffin on January 24, 2013, 09:48:23 pm
the pads look flimsy as hell. how ye make yer own and attach?

They are. I don't know how to do your own, though. Do a search on here. I think someone suggested floor mop pads from Lidl clipped to the channel.
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: Avo on January 24, 2013, 10:18:39 pm
the pads look flimsy as hell. how ye make yer own and attach?
i thought this too before buying one but it's not the case at all, you will work so much faster using wagtails.. Gain extra reach and makes easy work on lower patio doors too.
Title: Re: wagtail question
Post by: JSMC on January 26, 2013, 09:03:49 pm
any good for shop work also? pad looks very light for having to scrub off dirt